Chapter 21

As he stepped out of the bathroom, he realized that he didn't even know where to go. He had no idea about the layout of the house and needed to familiarize himself with it. He began walking around the house, taking everything in. The staircase was the first thing he saw. They were wooden and spiraled down to the living room. As he walked down the stairs, he felt a sense of awe. He had never seen a house like this before.

Another thing that shocked him was that people of this world lived in houses that had more than a single layer. A room for sleeping, a room for gathering, for cooking etc. all arranged in a manner where they were strategically on top of one another. In Loye's experience, if you needed a room for something you simply built a new hut close by. However, Alex's memories told him that these people had to do things like this because they needed to use space more efficiently. The idea was completely foreign to Loye.

Loye walked down the stairs into the living room and he noticed that the house was full of furniture, gadgets and appliances. There was a large flat-screen TV, even larger than the one he saw in his room the night before. There was a sound system with speakers and a table had a computer on it. As Loye saw each of these devices through Alex's eyes, he had to consult Alex's memories to understand what he was looking at each time. All the things he saw were simply fascinating. The world he was currently in was fascinating.

As he accessed more of Alex's memories, he began to understand that the humans of this world had gone through great lengths to create things that made life easier and more easily lived. To Loye who had never ventured past a few miles out of his village, these things looked like utopia. However, he could also sense Alex's disappointment with the state of the house, and as he thought about it more he began to realize why.

As he walked around, he noticed that things weren't quite as perfect as he first thought. The furniture was well-maintained but old, the walls were plain, and there were a few holes and cracks here and there. The carpet was worn out in some places, and the curtains were faded. Loye couldn't help but realize what Alex was disappointed about. The family was struggling to make ends meet, they were probably trying to save money wherever possible.

Despite the signs of struggle, Loye was still amazed by the novelty of the house. He had never seen anything like it before. He felt like he had been transported to a different world. Everything was so new and exciting. But the further he delved into the new memories, he increasingly realized that things were not so great for Alex. From these memories, Loye already knew that Alex had been struggling with his life. He had a dead-end job, few friends, and no social life. He lived with his mother in a small apartment and had no real hobbies or interests outside of work.

As he continued exploring the house, he felt like he was getting a better understanding of Alex's life. He felt like he was slowly getting to know the man whose body he was inhabiting. Despite the challenges that Alex had faced, Loye knew that there was something that he could take out something of this experience. He had been given a chance to see the world in a new way, and he was determined to make the most of it.

As Loye continued, lost in thought, he suddenly remembered that he had to get ready for work. He mentally checked the time and realized that it was less than an hour he had to spare before he had to leave the house for work. He tried to recall where he had put his work bag and uniform, but his memories were still fuzzy and he couldn't quite remember.

Suddenly, a memory flashed through his mind. Through Alex's recollections, he remembered that his mother would usually be in the kitchen at this time, preparing breakfast and lunch for the two of them to take to work. He quickened his pace and headed towards the kitchen, hoping that his mother was there and that he could at least grab a quick bite before he had to leave. As he entered the kitchen, he was greeted by the smell of cooking food. His mother was indeed there, bustling around the kitchen and humming a tune to herself. Loye felt a sense of relief wash over him as he greeted his, Alex's, mother.